Hydrangea plant named &#39;HORE0046&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘HORE0046’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with strong and sturdy stems; freely and uniformly flowering habit; mophead-type inflorescences with numerous green and white-colored sterile flowers that become predominantly green with development; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HORE0046’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla, commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HORE0046’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Velp and Reeuwijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and freely-branching Hydrangea plants with strong sturdy stems, large inflorescences with numerous attractive sterile flowers and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2011 in Velp, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 12-00-03, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 12-00-15, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands in June, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled environment in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands since August, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HORE0046’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HORE0046’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to spreading and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit with strong and sturdy stems.     -   4. Freely and uniformly flowering habit.     -   5. Mophead-type inflorescences with numerous green and         white-colored sterile flowers that become predominantly green         with development.     -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely flowering than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are more         globular than and not as flat-top as inflorescences of plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Developed sterile flower sepals of plants of the new         Hydrangea are green in color whereas developed sterile flower         sepals of plants of the female parent selection are pink in         color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Hydrangea are darker green and         less rugose than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are more         globular than and not as flat-top as inflorescences of plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Developed sterile flower sepals of plants of the new         Hydrangea are green in color whereas developed sterile flower         sepals of plants of the male parent selection are creamy white         in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Grunes Gewolbe’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Grunes Gewolbe’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are more         globular than and not as flat-top as inflorescences of plants of         ‘Grunes Gewolbe’.     -   2. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are more         durable than sterile flowers of plants of ‘Grunes Gewolbe’.     -   3. Developed sterile flower sepals of plants of the new         Hydrangea are green in color whereas developed sterile flower         sepals of plants of ‘Grunes Gewolbe’ are deep pink in color.     -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea have longer postproduction         longevity than plants of ‘Grunes Gewolbe’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HORE0046’ during an early stage of development.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical developing inflorescence of ‘HORE0046’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical leaf of ‘HORE0046’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HORE0046’ at a stage of full development.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the summer in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 20° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from about averaged 12° C. to 22° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. Plants of the new Hydrangea are typically not treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘HORE0046’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 12-00-03, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 12-00-15, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 20° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             months at temperatures about 20° C. to 30° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent             on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to spreading and             rounded plant habit; overall plant shape, broadly obovate;             strong and sturdy stems; moderately vigorous growth habit             and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 29.2 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 47.5 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about             twelve lateral branches develop per plant.         -   Length.—About 15.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4.1 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.         -   Aspect.—Upright to about 60° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Color.—When developing: Close to 144A to 144B. Developed:             Close to 144A; at the nodes, close to N186B to N186C; when             woody, close to 199C and 200A.         -   Lenticels.—Density: Sparse to medium. Size: About 2 mm by             0.75 mm. Color: Close to N186C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 9.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth to slightly             rugose, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Darker than between NN137A             and 147A; venation, close to 144B. Fully developed leaves,             lower surface: Close to 147C; venation, close to 145B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to             4 mm. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             144B. Color, lower surface: Close to 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and small             inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on mophead-type             terminal panicles; panicles rounded and flattened globular             in shape; flowers face upright to outwardly depending on             their position in the inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants             begin flowering about three months after planting; flowering             begins in the late spring and is continuous until late             summer in Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity.—Fertile flowers last about five days on             the plant, fertile flowers not persistent; sterile flowers             last about six weeks on the plant, sterile flowers             persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 65             fertile flowers per panicle and about 175 sterile flowers             per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 9.1 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 13.8 cm.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About             5 mm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Color: Close to 145B towards             the base fading to close to 145B and at the base, close to             144A.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Shape: Cup-shaped. Color: Close to 145A.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 6 mm.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 3 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 9 mm.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:             Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 155A fading towards the base to close to             NN155D. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 155A fading towards the base to close to NN155D.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 155A fading towards the base             to close to NN155D. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 155A fading towards the base to close to             NN155D.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five or             occasionally six in a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm.             Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A             fading towards the base to close to 145B. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 143B fading towards the base to             close to 145B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 145A             fading towards the base to close to 150C.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five or             occasionally four or six in a single whorl. Length: About             1.6 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to roughly             reniform. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Crenate.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 144B fading towards the base to close to 150D and NN155B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 145B fading towards             the base to close to NN155B. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to between 137A and 143A fading towards the base to             close to 143C; at the base, close to NN155B; color becoming             predominantly more green with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 147D fading towards the base to             close to NN155B; color becoming predominantly more green             with development.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Erect to             about 30° from vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely             pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 145D.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Erect to             about 40° from branch axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to N155D.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About ten. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament             color: Close to NN155D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 160D. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About 2 mm.             Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 157D.             Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 157A. Ovary             color: Close to 157A.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About eight. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament             color: Close to NN155D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 160D. Pistils:             Pistil quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About             1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to             NN155D. Style length: About 0.75 mm. Style color: Close to             NN155D. Ovary color: Close to NN155D.         -   Seeds.—To date, seed production has not been observed on             plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production     conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be     resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘HORE0046’ as illustrated and described. 